Tag Archives: Israel

It took me about 30 minutes to decide how to start this post. I was not having a creative blocking or anything alike, because I knew what I wanted to write. It was just because this subject makes my heart hurt.

From all the international issues, the Israeli-Arab conflict was always the one that got my attention since I was around 15/16 years old. I am used to write about it in different perspectives (for example my master’s degree thesis was called the Israeli-Arab conflict and water issues: from scarcity to conflict) and I try to keep myself updated about the conflict as much as I can.

As most of you know a series of attacks from Israel to Palestine (and vice-versa) are being carried on. It all started with the kidnapping of 3 Israeli Teenagers (and when I say start, I mean that this event was the big red button that you are not supposed to push, as the hurting of people was on-going before that) by who knows who. Then a Palestinian teenager was killed in retaliation by again, mystery murderers. From there, it escalated very quickly (doesn’t it always?).

According to The Guardian, Israel has launched 1300 air strikes at Palestine, while the Palestinians fired 800 rockets at Israel. 166 Palestinians were killed and Israel didn’t report any fatalities. I suggest you look around and gather information from both sides to have an impartial idea.

As for me, I still think that there is a solution: a 2 state solution, where neighbours respect borders. But will it be possible? The hatred between Palestine and Israel is so much that I think that this will never end (I hope, I really do, that I am wrong). They grow up being taught that the other party is the enemy. I have friends in both sides… although they think they can live in peace, the distrust is there. How can we change this? There are some many violations of human rights (by both parts!) that I start thinking if this will ever end. In the end, they are all people, fighting for something that in 2014 shouldn’t be a problem anymore.

My main concern at this moment is how much more this will escalate. Will it end up in war again? Are we looking at a 3rd intifada or is this just business as usual? Since 2008 that there have been two situations like this one. They were mediated and they didn’t develop into something else, so hopefully this situation will be the same.

Never mind the politics or who is right or wrong. People are being killed. Where is diplomacy when we need it? What can UN do? What can we do?

Last Thursday, Palestine gained the non-member observer state status by 138 votes in favor, 41 abstentions and 9 against. So what does this status mean?

First, Palestine can now be called a state. Although it seems insignificant, the word state is really relevant for the Palestinians, because they have been fighting for it for a long time. Second, Palestine can now ask for membership in different international organizations such as the International Criminal Court and others. Third, Palestine is a step closer to obtain the full membership in the United Nations. I could go on, but I think that you already got the point.

Why start with Palestine? Anyone who knows me will answer that it is my “thing”. It actually is a very complicated matter. Long story short: Israel and Palestine are disputing over territories that should have been firmly established long ago (yes, yes, there is a resolution, bla bla bla. I know). Of course it is not only because of that. Unfortunately, there’s more to this than meets the eye, but I’m not going to explain that. If you want, you can learn more here.

Now we have a state (of Israel) and we have the Palestinian territories that, according to the international law, are not a state. But that is (hopefully) about to change. Today, 29th of November, Palestine is going to ask for the non-member state status at the United Nations.

In the past few days, we heard about hundreds of deaths in the Palestinian side and three deaths in the Israeli side. It is really disproportional. Nothing justifies the loss of human lives, no matter who started what and for what motives. I believe that the non-member state status will bring a new dimension for the Israeli-Palestinian problem. Let’s wait and see.